Marley Marl has worked with many of the most well known names in hip-hop. Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, TLC, Busta Rhymes, Raekwon — he’s produced for ’em all, but his most notable accomplishment might be his efforts on LL Cool J’s 1990 classic Mama Said Knock You Out, specifically the title track.
In a new web series called “Classic Recipes,” Marl explains how he and LL came up with the beat for “Knock You Out,” which samples James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Chicago Gangsters. It’s a must-watch for any music nerd who gets off to paragraphs like this:
He discusses the collaboration and the production process of the track, as well as methods and tools that were used, including the Akai MPC60 and E-Mu SP-1200, the preferred sampler and drum machine for most hip hop producers at that time. In this video, Marley Marl loads the samples into his new production weapons of choice, Ableton Live and the Akai APC40, including bits of Sly And The Family Stone’s “Trip To Your Heart” and James Brown’s “Funky Drummer.” (Via)
Mmm…tell me more about this “E-Mu SP-1200.”
(Via)
